The Supreme Court (SC) has rejected Maria Lourdes Sereno’s motion for reconsideration following her ouster as the High Court’s Chief Justice.
In a vote of 8-6, SC rejected Sereno’s appeal to overturn the High Court’s decision to remove her from the Chief Justice post, a Court insider claimed.
The decision also included instructions for the Judicial and Bar Council to start accepting and screening qualified candidates for the Chief Justice post.
Meanwhile, Jojo Lacanilao, one of Sereno’s spokespersons, said SC’s decision is already expected by their camp.
“We were not surprised by the final result of the SC decision but we remain convinced that the decision is unjust and will be questioned by the people for a long time to come,” he said in a text message to reporters.
Lacanilao added Sereno is set to “vacate her office and continue to be the voice for the people.”
In May, Justices in the SC voted 8-6 in favor of the quo warranto petition that sought to declare her appointment in 2012 invalid for alleged non-filing of some of her SALN.
The first female chief justice immediately stepped out of her office after the “quo warranto” vote.
Among those who voted against the petition are Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr, Mariano del Castillo, Estela Perlas Bernabe, Marvic Leonen, and Benjamin Caguioa.
This is the first time the high court removed its own Chief Justice, a move questioned for violating Sereno’s constitutional rights.
